Celtic/Punk Band FlatFoot 56 Charms B-sides Listeners
Lauren Wise
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Entertainment
They roared onto the stage with barely a second to take a breath. They had the crowd excited in minutes and the pit in action in even less time. They kept up the pace for a half-hour and then introduced what they considered "slow songs" - a description with which many would disagree. They brought an Irish dancer on stage and screamed to "Amazing Grace." Who would do such a thing? Flatfoot 56.
In a show unlike most at Messiah, FF56 got even those people sitting beyond the sidelines to participate in the March 11 edition of B-sides. The "Oi! Punk" band hails from Chicago and has a sound comparable to that of Dropkick Murphy's or Flogging Molly. Bagpipes and the mandolin made appearances throughout the performance in the nimble hands of John Robieson, who also played guitar. Tobin Bawinkel (guitar) led the show, sharing the spotlight and lead vocals with bassist and brother Kyle Bawinkel. The other Bawinkel brother, Justin, played the drums and occasionally joined in on the singing, but seemed more apt to offer comments between songs. Originally, when the band was formed in 2000, it consisted of just the three brothers. This only lasted about half a year. Then Robieson joined and added their very specific Celtic flair, which they brought to the Union just in time for everyone to get excited about St. Patrick's Day.
There were all sorts of people enjoying the show. Of course, it was expected that a couple of those in front of the stage would look the part of the typical FF56 fan. They wore black, military-style boots, blue jeans with three inch cuffs, white undershirts, and red suspenders while sporting shaved heads. The manic drum beats, pulsing bass-lines, and fist-pumping anthems were just what they came to hear.
However, they were not alone in the mini mosh-pit and instead were joined by much mellower individuals and those who looked as though they had never once listened to a punk band. At one point the band even played couple's dance songs, which attracted more participation. It seemed that a wide range of students enjoyed the show, from the die-hard fans to the fresh ears.
When the songs had ended and the lights came back on, the fans enjoyed a good deal of time chatting with the band and buying merchandise. Many people stayed around to talk, take pictures, and hang out with a few members of the band while supporting their livelihood by purchasing t-shirts or CD's.
In a show unlike most at Messiah, FF56 got even those people sitting beyond the sidelines to participate in the March 11 edition of B-sides. The "Oi! Punk" band hails from Chicago and has a sound comparable to that of Dropkick Murphy's or Flogging Molly. Bagpipes and the mandolin made appearances throughout the performance in the nimble hands of John Robieson, who also played guitar. Tobin Bawinkel (guitar) led the show, sharing the spotlight and lead vocals with bassist and brother Kyle Bawinkel. The other Bawinkel brother, Justin, played the drums and occasionally joined in on the singing, but seemed more apt to offer comments between songs. Originally, when the band was formed in 2000, it consisted of just the three brothers. This only lasted about half a year. Then Robieson joined and added their very specific Celtic flair, which they brought to the Union just in time for everyone to get excited about St. Patrick's Day.
There were all sorts of people enjoying the show. Of course, it was expected that a couple of those in front of the stage would look the part of the typical FF56 fan. They wore black, military-style boots, blue jeans with three inch cuffs, white undershirts, and red suspenders while sporting shaved heads. The manic drum beats, pulsing bass-lines, and fist-pumping anthems were just what they came to hear.
However, they were not alone in the mini mosh-pit and instead were joined by much mellower individuals and those who looked as though they had never once listened to a punk band. At one point the band even played couple's dance songs, which attracted more participation. It seemed that a wide range of students enjoyed the show, from the die-hard fans to the fresh ears.
When the songs had ended and the lights came back on, the fans enjoyed a good deal of time chatting with the band and buying merchandise. Many people stayed around to talk, take pictures, and hang out with a few members of the band while supporting their livelihood by purchasing t-shirts or CD's.
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